Ji Yuning continued to smile, she smiled more often today, "Auntie, use the money in this card to go on a trip. I will transfer money into it every month as a way of thanking you for raising me and taking care of me."
Ji Yuning said: Thank you for raising me, thank you for taking care of me.
Yes, Ji Yuning's feelings for her were only those between elders. How could she doubt that Ji Yuning liked her because of that graffiti that didn't even count as a kiss?
Hao Yingman's words were plausible, and Ji Yuning's actions all had preconditions, so why can it be attributed to Ji Yuning liking her?
Isn't he taking himself too seriously?
What is it about her that makes Ji Yuning like her?
Fang Bai was in a state of confusion. She said, "I don't want to."
Ji Yuning didn't go along with her.
“My aunt used to spend money on me all the time. Now that I’m all grown up, it’s only right that I spend money on my aunt.”
Ji Yuning did not withdraw her hand, and Fang Bai did not take it. The two faced each other silently, their eyes locked in a tug-of-war.
It's like a game of "Statues"—whoever moves or speaks first loses.
The outcome of this game was decided from the very beginning.
Someone's heart fluttered.
So Ji Yuning didn't care about winning or losing; she was the first to pull back her aching wrist.
Before Fang Bai could relax, Ji Yuning walked past him and placed the card on the upright suitcase, the small card contrasting sharply with the huge suitcase.
After putting down the card, Ji Yuning didn't even glance at it. Instead, she looked at the white short-sleeved shirt on the bed and asked, "Is this auntie going to throw this away?"
Fang Bai looked over, but couldn't utter the word "hmm".
Ji Yuning responded for her, taking the clothes in her hands and walking out.
Fang Bai asked instinctively, "Where are you going?"
Ji Yuning stopped in her tracks, paused for a few seconds, then turned around and said, "Help Auntie take out the trash."
After saying that, Ji Yuning continued walking outside.
As Fang Bai watched Ji Yuning's retreating figure, he felt that her words had a hidden meaning.
Before she could figure it out, Fang Bai saw Ji Yuning standing at the bedroom door, and then she heard Ji Yuning say, "Have a pleasant trip, Auntie."
Fang Bai's eyelids twitched.
A few seconds later, the door slammed shut.
Ji Yuning went out.
Perhaps because there was one less person, the room wasn't as stuffy, and the air was filled with the familiar scent of perfume.
When Fang Bai lowered his head, he raised his hand, and the faint strawberry scent on his fingertips disappeared without him noticing.
It was as if she had never smelled anything at all; she had simply misjudged the scent.
Author's Note:
Why did you give the card to the aunt?
Because one of the fabricated criteria for choosing a spouse was: _____ (Fill in the blank, 2 points)
Chapter 97
Putting his hand down, Fang Bai silently walked to the window and opened it wider.
She rested her arms on the windowsill, feeling the warm breeze on her face, and looked up at the sky.
Although it was a misunderstanding, Fang Bai had to admit that thinking Ji Yuning liked her was too audacious, and she was still a little scared. Her slightly flustered heartbeat only calmed down after Ji Yuning left.
After calculating the time, Mu Xuerou will be returning to China soon.
She is the one Ji Yuning likes.
Fang Bai felt a sudden headache and put his hand to his forehead, thinking it was from the wind, so he left the window.
As she sat on the edge of the bed and gently rubbed her temples with her fingertips, a blurry face suddenly flashed before her eyes, and a blurry image appeared in her mind. She had a feeling that someone had massaged her like this before.
However, Fang Bai had no memory of it and thought she was hallucinating from the pain.
His hands kept moving, and Fang Bai's thoughts didn't stop either.
She wondered if what she had said was a bit harsh. After she finished speaking, Ji Yuning's expression didn't seem very good; she was probably upset by what she had said.
But what reason could she give for apologizing?
Let the facts speak for themselves?
That definitely won't work.
She had to come up with a decent excuse that Ji Yuning couldn't find out about, and that she could use to make Ji Yuning happy.
Fang Bai fell into deep thought, and the kneading of his fingers slowly stopped.
A moment later, Fang Bai held her cheeks in her hands, her red lips pursed, looking distressed.
Fang Bai thought about it for a long time, so long that she didn't know how much time had passed.
As dusk settled outside the window and the unlit room suddenly went dark, Fang Bai realized that Ji Yuning hadn't returned from taking out the trash yet.
Or has she already returned, but she didn't hear a sound?
Fang Bai walked out of the bedroom. The living room was dimly lit, but it was clear that no one was there. However, Fang Bai still turned on the light and called out softly, "Xiao Ning?"
No one responded.
It's like knowing the outcome but still having expectations, and finally waiting for reality to tell you the answer.
Ji Yuning's handbag and laptop bag, which she had left on the sofa, were still there, and her coat was also still there; no one had touched them, so she probably hadn't left.
Where did they go?
Fang Bai paused for a moment, turned around and went back to the bedroom, picked up his phone which was lying on the bed and sent a message to Ji Yuning.
After waiting for half an hour, I still hadn't received a reply.
Fang Bai had no choice but to make a phone call.
The call went through, but no one answered.
Fang Bai waited until the system automatically disconnected.
This was the first time Ji Yuning had not answered Fang Bai's call. Even when their relationship was extremely strained, this had never happened before.
It seems... he's really angry.
A careful recollection of Ji Yuning's last words reveals something amiss.
Fang Bai bit her lip and didn't call again. She dialed back a minute later.
Just pretend Ji Yuning was busy and didn't hear it.
After the phone rang three times before being answered, Fang Bai's suppressed breathing eased, and she called out first, "Xiao Ning?"
The person on the other end quickly responded, "Mm."
Ji Yuning's voice was muffled, as if she was enduring something.
Fang Bai unconsciously lowered his voice and asked, "Where did you go?"
A long silence followed.
Jing thought the call had ended, but the countdown timer told her it hadn't.
Ji Yuning simply remained silent.
Fang Bai waited patiently for Ji Yuning to reply without rushing her.
It was really quiet.
Fang Bai could hear Ji Yuning's slightly heavy breathing and two muffled coughs.
Then, Ji Yuning said, "Throw away the trash."
The tone was very flat.
There are trash cans downstairs, and it takes less than five minutes to throw away trash, unless you're throwing it outside the community or in a place outside the south of the city.
"Then," Fang Bai paused, "why aren't they back yet?"
Ji Yuning replied quickly this time: "It's lost."
Fang Bai took several seconds to process the inappropriate answer to the question, ultimately failing to grasp the meaning of Ji Yuning's words.
Fang Bai turned off the speakerphone and put the phone to his ear, "Could you tell Auntie again?"
“I lost it.” Ji Yuning repeated, but after saying that, she added, “I lost myself.”
The last few words were so faint that they were almost imperceptible to Fang Bai, who was listening intently.
When the words whispered in his ear, Fang Bai's breath hitched.
If she understood correctly, Ji Yuning meant that she was trash? And that she had lost herself?
So... Ji Yuning is in the trash can right now?
Fang Bai dismissed the idea. Ji Yuning was such a clean person that even if she was drunk, she wouldn't throw herself in the trash can.
Fang Bai asked in a low voice, "Why do you say that?"
Another silence followed.
Before Ji Yuning could speak, Fang Bai asked, "Xiao Ning, where are you—"
Before the last word could be uttered, the call ended with a "beep".
Fang Bai took the phone away from his ear, looked at the contacts displayed on the screen, and without a moment's hesitation, called Ji Yuning again.
The system then informed her that the other party's phone was switched off.